Chapter 78 More About Nake
Chapter 78 More About Nate
**Mia’s POV**
+25 BONUS
Nate looked stunning. He was indeed one of the most handsome dectors I had ever seen. If I hadn’t met Kyle and gone through those crazy infatuated times with him, I would have been happy to meet a man like Nate. But things didn’t turn out that way. Everything was out of place.
He opened the passenger door with exaggerated formality. The leather seat was butter–soft as I slid in, that new car smell mixing with whatever expensive cologne he wore. I felt nauseous mediately. “Nate, can I open the windows?”
“Sure.” He closed my door before circling to the driver’s side. “Are you not feeling well?”
“No, I think I ate too much fried chicken for lunch.” I lied.
“Okay.If you need anything, let me know.”
I nodded and fastened my seat belt.
“So…are you going to tell me why you’ve been avoiding me these day?”
“I haven’t-” But the words died at his raised eyebrow. “Okay, fine Maybe a little.‘
The engine purred to life as he pulled away from the curb. Neither of us spoke for a moment, just the soft sounds of classical music from the speakers filling the space.
“Want to tell me why now?” he asked finally, his voice carefully neutral.
I watched streetlights slide past my window, thinking about all the things I couldn’t say. From Nate’s perspective, I did seem to
be fickle. I told my friends with certainty that divorce was what I wanted, and then immediately after that, I informed them that
I was pregnant with my ex–husband’s children. I have a pretty good idea of what Nate might be thinking about me. But obviously, it’s not going to happen.
“I guess I got a little tired.” I said instead.
A pause, then: “Look, if this is about Kyle…”
My head snapped toward him. “Nate, I really don’t want to talk about him right now.”
“We don’t have to talk about him,” he said after a moment. “We can just be normal people getting dinner. Talk about stupid things. Like how pretentious my car is.”
A laugh escaped me. “It is pretty pretentious.”
”
“Horrifically so.” His smile returned, more natural now. “My brother keeps threatening to put bumper stickers on it. Says it needs more personality.”
“You have a brother? And please tell me he hasn’t.”
“Yes, he is a few years younger than me.” There was a pause. “My mother passed away when I was young. My maternal grandparents raised us.”
I was a little shocked. I realized that I didn’t know Nate at . It was almost the first time he had mentioned his family. Nate seemed optimistic and handsome, and you could never imagine that he had been through all that.
“Okay, now I kind of want to meet your brother.” I suppressed my shock.
“No, you really don’t.” But his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled. “He’s the worst. In the best way, but still the worst.” The restaurant wasn’t what I expected. No valet parking, no crystal chandeliers – just a small place tucked between a bookstore and a vintage clothing shop. Warm light spilled from its windows, and the smell of grilling meat and spices made my mouth
water.
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Chapter 78 More About Nake
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“I know it doesn’t look like much,” Nate said as he parked, obviously misreading my expression. “But trust me on this one.”
“No, it’s perfect.” And it was. Exactly the kind of place I’d choose myself, not somewhere Kyle would ever set foot in.
Stop it, I told myself firmly. No thinking about Kyle tonight.
The inside was even better – exposed brick walls, inismatched wooden tables, plants hanging in macramé holders that looked handmade. An elderly woman greeted Nate by name, scolding hit for not visiting sooner.
“Yiayia, please,” he laughed, accepting her cheek pinches with good grace. “I’ve been busy! But look, I brought a friend this time.”
She turned her attention to me, dark eyes sharp despite her age.“, pretty girl. Too skinny though.”
“Oh, I “But she was already bustling away, calling orders to the kitchen.
“I should probably warn you,” Nate said as we settled into a corner table, “we don’t exactly get menus here. Yiayia just… feeds you what she thinks you need.”
“And you’re just telling me this now?”
“Would you have come if I’d explained that a tiny old grandmother was going to forcibly feed you?”
“Probably not,” I admitted, then added without thinking, “Gas would love her though.”
“Your dog?” When I nodded, he smiled. “You should see what she does when I tell her I’m bringing my dogs by. Pretty sure my dogs eats better than most people.”
I laughed. “Your grandmother been running this restaurant for a long time?”
. “She needs distractions. Otherwise she’ll be devastated. Twenty years ago her daughter left, then her husband.”
“I am sorry.”
“No, don’t be sorry. Someone needs to be sorry, but it’s not you.”
I saw Nate was calm when he said these things. I don’t think we should go into this topic in depth. Everyone has some pain that no one else can understand. I got that.
Food appeared periodically – small plates of perfectly grilled meats, fresh bread still warm from the oven, dips I couldn’t name but couldn’t stop eating. Each time I thought I couldn’t eat another bite, Yiayia would appear with something new, insisting just
a little more.
“I think she’s trying to fatten me up,” I whispered after she’d dropped off yet another plate.
“That’s how you know she likes you.” Nate reached for the last piece of bread. “Though I should probably warn you about dessert…”
“There’s dessert after all this?”
“There’s always dessert.” His eyes crinkled again. “Yiayia says life’s too short to skip the sweet things.”
Something about the way he said it made my chest feel tight. I looked down at my plate, pushing a piece of tomato around with my fork.
“Hey.” His voice gentled. “We don’t have to do this, you know.”
I glanced up. “Do what?”
–
we can just be friends. No pressure, no
“This. Any of it.” He gestured vaguely between us. “I meant what I said earlier expectations. Just… two people who occasionally get forcibly fed by my grandmothers.”
The simple honesty in his voice made my throat ache. “I’d like that” I said softly. “The friends thing. I’m just not… I can’t…”
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Chapter 78 More About Nate
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“I know.” And somehow, I thought maybe he did. Not everything, but enough. “Friends is good. Friends is perfect, actually.”
Before I could respond, Yiayia appeared with what looked like enough baklava to feed a small army.
“Eat, eat!” She pressed a hand to my cheek. “Too skinny still. Growing babies need food, yes?”
I did what she say. Ate al lot. I have experienced some unexpected changes in my sense of taste. But my love for baklava remains unchanged.
I spoke to Nate about the construction company that was giving me a headache. He was, of course, happy to help. I told him that all he had to do was share some of his experience.
I think I ate too much, and nausea is starting to rise in my stomach again. If I throw up here, I doubt he’ll be able to tell that I’m pregnant. So I said I had to go.
“Mia-”
”
“I really need to go.” I grabbed my bag, turning down the offer to take a walk.
“Okay.” He stood too, keys already in hand. “I’ll drive you.”
“No, I’ll get a car.” I looked at him and held back the second wave of nausea in
“At least let me wait with you.“.
my stomach.
Inodded, not trusting my voice. The night air felt colder now as we stepped outside, or maybe that was just the adrenaline making me shiver.
“Here.” He shrugged out of his jacket, draping it over my shoulders before I could protest. “Your ride should be here in two minutes.”
I clutched the soft fabric, breathing in its warmth. “Thanks.”
The car arrived soon. Probably for the best – I didn’t trust myself to speak around the lump in my throat.
“Text me when you get home safe?” he called as I slid into the backseat.
I nodded, still not trusting my voice.
It wasn’t until I was halfway home that I realized I was still wearing his jacket.
Chapter 79 LOVEFOOL
